I rise to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Internment.

 

During World War II, fear and mistrust clouded judgment and allowed brazen racism to take hold.  Sixty six years ago, on February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which sent 120,000 American citizens and legal residents of Japanese descent to internment camps, forcing them to lose their homes, jobs, and possessions. Some of these families were held in internment even while their sons showed great patriotism by serving in the U.S. Army.

 

In my home state of Hawai‘i, 10,000 individuals were investigated, and an estimated 1,250 Japanese Americans were detained in our islands.

 

During trying times such as our nation once again faces, we must not allow prejudice against people based on race, creed or national origin to shape public policy.  Fear tests our moral fortitude, and this National Day of Remembrance reminds us to reflect on our past actions in order to make just decisions which uphold our Constitution.